Sheep Producers chair Bindi Murray is proud to have given producers a voice during live export phase out

Sheep Producers Australia chair Bindi Murray says it made the difficult but deliberate decision to engage with the Federal Government’s live sheep export phase-out process to ensure producers had a voice during one of the most controversial agricultural policy shifts in recent history. Ms Murray was the only industry representative standing alongside Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins when she visited the Muchea Livestock Centre on July 15 to reveal how a $139.7 million package to support the end to live sheep exports by sea would be spent. The Woodanilling sheep farmer, who was named the organisation’s chair in November, 2024, said Sheep Producers Australia “never agreed” with the phase out policy or its implementation but was dedicated to ensuring the best outcome for the nation’s sheep industry. “We never agreed with the phase out policy,” she said. “Sheep Producers Australia still doesn’t support this policy. “However, now it is about ensuring producers — and their communities — receive the support required to transition their businesses.” The Albanese Government last year passed legislation mandating the end to live sheep exports by May 1, 2028, a move Australia’s sheep industry says will cripple the an industry that has helped shape the country. At Muchea, Ms Collins revealed the package would include $40m to boost WA’s processing supply chain capacity, $30m for farmers transitioning away from sheep, $2.2m to assist shearers looking for different work and $1.5m for the transport industry. The package drew a mixed response from farmers and industry, who said the package “won’t keep farmers in sheep”. Originally just $107m, the funding package was increased and reallocated in October after lobbying from the WA Government and response to industry concerns flagged during a co-design process that involved workshops in 11 regional towns and two in Perth. Ms Murray said Sheep Producers Australia had “argued consistently that the Government needed to increase and adjust the initial package”, saying the final result was “more aligned with industry needs”. “We advocated for the codesign process on the back repeated calls from producers that they felt isolated, unheard and in the dark,” she said. “Sheep Producers Australia believes the co-design process is a reflection of Government listening to industry. “Now it is a matter of making sure the money flows as soon as possible and to those who most need it.” Sheep Producers Australia — a national body that represents Australia’s 20,000 sheepmeat producers headed up by chief executive Bonnie Skinner — was awarded more than $50,000 by the Federal Government in March from the live sheep export ban transition co-design funding. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry awarded the contract to SPA for the period of March 27 to 30 June 2025 to assist strategy development during the final stages of the co-design process. Industry was made aware of the grant via a post on X by an industry supporter. The move sparked backlash from some farmers and farming groups, who said it was “very suss” and “interesting” considering the election result was unknown and a win for the Coalition would have reversed the proposed live sheep export ban. However, Ms Murray said without Sheep Producers Australia’s involvement, there would be an information vacuum and a much worse outcome for sheep producers. “The organisation went heavily in to bat for the Federal Government’s original co-design process, with Ms Murray saying it was a way for the whole supply chain to be “recognised and considered for its important role in supporting the sustainability of industry”. “Providing strategic advice to government is an important part of our role,” she said. “We are best placed to undertake this role because of its strategic national focus and extensive networks within the sheep industry. “Sheep Producers Australia’s primary goal is to ensure a sustainable sheep industry across the country.” Ms Murray said the additional funding announced in October was more aligned with industry needs, but stopped short of saying whether more was needed, saying a clearer understanding of what additional investment would be required could not be made until the package review in 2026. “We are proud of our work to voice the concerns of affected producers and to support our industry during this tough time,” she said. “Our primary goal is to ensure a sustainable sheep industry across the country.”